The Brian Lehrer Show

I find it so blatantly hypocritical that all these people protesting, Chinese action in Tibet are the same ones supporting the Israeli occupation and activities in the Palestinian territories.Maybe because I am not and American I am able to see outside of the news coccoon that most Americans are locked into.

Can we please think about the athletes? Leave politics out of the Olympics. Boycotting accomplishes nothing but the ruination of dreams, aspirations and years of yard work of thousands of athletes and will make not a particle of difference in the issue at hand. If INDIVIDUAL political leaders want to make a statement, personally boycott and not put in an appearance, fine. But don't ruin it for the athletes who have worked so hard and sacrificed and want to compete in a global, communal arena of goodwill. It's about the GAMES.

It's disgusting. Good God, can everyone please grow up?! A few jerks are going to bring about the end of the Olympic Relay, I just know it. Mark well, everyone, you are witnessing history. Never again will the flame travel the world before the opening of the Games. And for what? To what end? Who will be proud?

I hope they're happy.

What does the torch have to do with China. If people want to protest they can do so without attacking the torch and the people carrying it. These are acts of terrorism.

I love how Israel-bashers like "Gregory" always find a pretext to sling their mud - whether it's China and the Olympics or something else.

Consider the facts: Tibet, at least 1,400 years old, is one of the world’s oldest nations, has its own language, its own religion and even its own ethnicity. Over 1 million of its people have been killed by the Chinese, its culture has been systematically obliterated, 6,000 of its 6,200 monasteries have been looted and destroyed, and most of its monks have been tortured, murdered or exiled.

Palestinians have none of these characteristics. There has never been a Palestinian country, never been a Palestinian language, never been a Palestinian ethnicity, never been a Palestinian religion in any way distinct from Islam elsewhere. Indeed, “Palestinian” had always meant any individual living in the geographic area called Palestine. For most of the first half of the 20th century, “Palestinian” and “Palestine” almost always referred to the Jews of Palestine. The United Jewish Appeal, the worldwide Jewish charity that provided the nascent Jewish state with much of its money, was actually known as the United Palestine Appeal. Compared to Tibetans, few Palestinians have been killed, its culture has not been destroyed nor its mosques looted or plundered, and Palestinians have received billions of dollars from the international community. Unlike the dying Tibetan nation, there are far more Palestinians today than when Israel was created.

This is a preemptive reminder: please remember to stay on topic to the question posed above. Thanks!

-BL Show-

Its sad when people care more about Games and torch relays then human rights.

BORED - you are 100% correct.

But it isn't just games - it's billions of dollars of China trade.

Follow the money.

I'm not going to dignify the Tibet-Palestine debate, but on the main point:

Why is it that the hosts of the Olympics are allowed to turn the Olympics into a platform for their political ideology and use it as shield from criticism? The host countries get to use the Olympics for political gain without criticism. Yet it's called "opportunistic" for people to protest that government's brutal conduct when they're preparing for the Olympics.

There is no such thing as an apolitical Olympics. Don't kid yourselves.

The IOC ruined the Olympics when they selected a repressive regime to host the Olympics which I ASSURE YOU was done for political reasons.

HOWEVER... the Tibetan protesters have gone completely nuts. Attacking athletes is just wrong under any circumstances. Sure, they may have gotten a lot more press than they would've otherwise, but how many moderates have walked away from their cause as a result?

I have heard nothing substantive from either side to be honest. I've heard unfounded slogans from the pro-Tibet crowd and arguments that smack of hypocrisy and outright lies from the pro-China people.

I'd suggest we "no-show" the opening and closing ceremonies but let our athletes compete in the actual games.

I also hope that some gold medalists, regardless of nationality, wave high a Tibetan flag.

Brave Tibetans for their patriotism, given what will happen to them once the Olympics are over.

Hypocritical Bushies for ignoring this opportunity, when given this unique circumstance allowing them (us) to take a position virtually without political or financial penalty.

These next few months -- this Olympic Season -- can only be considered the true litmus test of whether our interesting experiment, started by Clinton, of "engagement" really works.

Sue -- according to an NPR commentator earlier today the Olympic Torch ceremony began in 1936 with Hitler -- ending the ceremony or contextualizing it might be historical but change is not always bad -- esp. when it leads to something good.

For those who believe that the it's only "games", it's worth reflecting on the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. Although the bid was won before the Nazi Party gained power in Germany, some leaders in the government saw the Olympics as an opportunity to promote their Nazi ideology. Hitler was convinced by Joseph Goebbels to allow the games to take place in Germany. Preparation for the games started in the early 1930s. Hitler used the Olympics as a tool for propaganda.

By allowing only members of the "Aryan race" to compete for Germany, Hitler further promoted his ideological belief of racial supremacy. Although Germany won most of the medals in the Olympics, other athletes, such as African-American athlete Jesse Owens, who won four gold medals, showed great athleticism through performance.

Hitler removed signs stating "Jews not wanted" and similar slogans from the main tourist attractions. Hitler desired to clean up Berlin, the German Ministry of Interior authorized the chief of Berlin Police to arrest all gypsies and keep them in a special camp. Nazi officials ordered that foreign visitors should not be subjected to the criminal strictures of anti-homosexual laws.

@ Megan you are right that its not just games and your comments about the 1936 olympics is spot on. We know why the elite in our world are willing to look the other way. My problem is the reaction by regular people who seem to care more about games and don't want to see protest.

i am chinese and i totally understands why the western countries want to make trouble in China. Actually i would do the same if i were you. coz a stronger China is a "threat " to all of you, according to your theory. so let china grow, so we can become your market and nurture your people. but not too strong

BORED - indeed, the sheeple have had the wool pulled over there eyes...and the real way to get to people is to continue to educate them about the what China today really is and the persecution and struggle of the Tibetans.

Yes, David.

A stronger tyrannical China is a "threat" to the Chinese people, to the West and to the East.

Megan, please go back to read some book or reliable academic paper before spreading out lies. Your argument about Tibet is based on one side propaganda from Tibetan Seperationists.

for starters, Tibet had 1.2 million people at 1950s. It's basically impossible to kill 1 million of them.

Seriously, wake up. read

test and grades are needed to assess if the student has learned, for both the student and for the teacher. A curve of class performance gives the teacher a mean to determine average performance for the class. The composition of each new class requires a reassesment of ability and capibility of the class. The collective information of capible teachers has value in determining cirriculum for each school. The overall quality of the teacher body determines school performance.

While I don't condone physically impeding the progress of the Olympic torch, I do feel this this the appropriate place for protest.

As for other statements that the games or the torch should not be politicized: WRONG! China wants to use the Olympics and the torch to state that it has arrived as an economic and political super power. The protesters want the Chinese to know that the world still has serious concerns that China is little than a totalitarian dictatorship leading brainwashed masses. China has as much respect for human rights as North Korea does.

Gregory states: "I find it so blatantly hypocritical that all these people protesting, Chinese action in Tibet are the same ones supporting the Israeli occupation and activities in the Palestinian territories. Maybe because I am not and American I am able to see outside of the news coccoon that most Americans are locked into"

Gregory: Maybe because you're not American you don't realize that the USA is a big country. Not every American supports the Israeli occupation (for that matter, not all Israelis do, either) and why would you think that the samll number of Americans who even have a strong opinion about the Israeli occupation are protesting against the Chinese occupation of Tibet?

I think one of the problems is that the Chinese diaspora see the criticism of the Chinese government as being anti-Chinese (and indeed for some people it might be). Many of those critical of the Chinese government, however, are critical because they don't like seeing more than a billion (Chinese!) people under the rule of a repressive regime.

I think there's very few people within the movement who are genuinely worried about China taking over their own countries and thus being a direct threat to them as they are worried about the rights of the people IN CHINA.

Of course China has human right problem

but we don't want you to tell us what to do !!

look at the comments from the internet, the western people are not just against the chinese government, but actually against the chinese people.

that's why all the chinese around the world are united to protect the god-damn torch !

the western media is full of biased articles about people against china, but never will they interview people who support China and tibet. is that free speech ? it's totally manipulated progaganda only with better skills

David where are you. Probably the chinese embassy in paris.

tibet students, like all other 50 enthnic minorities students in China enjoy many privileges, like lower college entrance grade. and we have special cantines at universities for musilins. In France, nobody cares about what arab people eat, and they made the girls stop wearing scarfs. in the end they are the model of human rights ! what a shameless asshole

David - sorry you don't want "us" to tell you what to do.

That's what happens when a country opresses people. People don't like injustice and they tell you what to do.

This how the grown-up world works.

Yao - China also is known for a wee bit of propoganda too. And supression of free speech and other wonderful examples of tyranny.

Or is that all is Tibetan Seperatist "lies" too?

Just wondering.

David -- so what do YOU suggest as a solution to the problem?

I think that's what democratic and non-democratic people alike are waiting to hear.

Just don't tell us to ignore what you admit is a problem. If the Chinese govt. can fix it peacefully, and soon, then great.

David states: "the western media is full of biased articles about people against china, but never will they interview people who support China and tibet. is that free speech ? it's totally manipulated progaganda only with better skills"

David, you are right: the western media is filled with biased articles. The strength of it is that all opinions can find their way into the western media. Even yours. Differenct ideas and perceptions can be discussed. In contrast, the Communist Party controls what information the Chinese people have access to. Perhaps the Chinese in the west react so defensively to the western media because exposure to this multiplicity of views comes as quite a shock.

David why is my Chivas missing?? Come to my office at once!! And don't worry...

I firmly believe that the U.S. should boycott the Olympics this year.

Yes, boycott and protest the Olympics! It's no longer primarily a sporting event, but a giant advertisement for corporatism and consumerism.

David is not wrong about the Chinese people perceiving the protests as being anti-Chinese rather than anti-Chinese government.

I am Chinese, and while I support the furthering of human rights in Tibet *and* China, it's hard not to take the protests as a personal slap when people are chanting anti-China slogans. Instead of "shame on China," why not "shame on Hu Jintao?" The Chinese people have suffered at the hands of their government just as much as Tibetans, but no one seems to care about that. This is why many Chinese people are against the protests.

Thank you Mike.

These Olympics are our one chance to get any

information out of China at all, as the Tibetans well know. Engagement or Isolation? This ( Olympics 09) is the test.

Yao states: "Megan, please go back to read some book or reliable academic paper before spreading out lies. Your argument about Tibet is based on one side propaganda from Tibetan Seperationists. for starters, Tibet had 1.2 million people at 1950s. It's basically impossible to kill 1 million of them. Seriously, wake up. read"

Yao: I have read. For starters: There are no reliable estimates of the population of Tibet from the 1950s. Seriously.

What is is April 1st again? It is laughable (really cry-able) to talk about a US boycott of the Olympics. PEOPLE: The US is no longer interested in human rights. Remember the Geneva Conventions? Remember the laws against torture? Remember extraordinary renditions? Have you heard of Guantanomo? How about the blatant violation of international law with the unprovoked attack on Iraq?

WE are going to boycott based on human rights?! That's pretty funny.

Paulo,

Please don't generalize about the "Chinese diaspora". As part of the "Chinese diaspora" I do not see criticism of China to be criticism of the Chinese people. And I would love to be among the protestors today. I actually have the opportunity to protest today (but will not, because there are only so many white guys with dreadlocks I can stomach seeing in any given period of time, thus I avoid SF protests.)

I don't know how many Tibetans the Chinese have killed. But it is commonly accepted by sinologists like Orville Schell that, while in power, Mao killed over 70 million Chinese. And now the rise of China's middle class is impacting the world's food supply. China is a complex, delicate issue, with a non-complex, non-delicate fascist government.

On the other hand, if I don't protest my own U.S. government's incompetent, ill-strategized actions in Iraq, it's a bit odd to protest China.

I think at least part of the blame for this situation lies with the IOC. We have to face facts. The Olympics ARE (and always will be) a political coup for their host. The games bring international prestiges and an influx of tourists. The IOC should have expected that picking a host with a questionable human rights record would attract protesters. If they didn't want politics to interfere with the sports, they should have picked a less controversial host country.

I don't really care. I lost interest in the Olympics in the early 90s. It's just a venue for big business to take over what was a good idea gone wrong as is often the case when taken over by corporate interest (read greed) and run by a select incestuous organization of former fascist leaning thugs. I feel sorry for the athletes who don't get the proper credit due them. They are used.

It amazes me that we always say "never again" when speaking about the holocaust but at the same time people are arguing that we shouldn't disrupt a sports event to make a political statement against the genocide that China is helping by supporting the Sudanese government not to mention the human rights abuses against the people of Tibet not to mention China's own citizens.

This is a no-brainer...sports vs. putting pressure on China aid and abet genocide? SPORTS SHOULD LOSE THAT ARGUMENT EVERY TIME!!!!

As for "what does the torch have to do with China? " duh...it's a symbol...protests often employ symbolic actions. Another no-brainer. Boycott the genocide olympics! I applaud the protestors who went after the symbol of the genocide olympics and I hope the same happens in San Fran! NO GENOCIDE OLYMPICS!!!

It is ironic that attempting to extinguish the Olympic flame is seen as a symbolic blow for human rights. The creation of the flame relay began during the 1936 Berlin games by Hitler as a symbol of aryan supremacy.

The Olympics are passe. They have always served a political purpose, whether it be democrats against fascists or us against the commies. It's evolved to a corporate extravanganza, almost a World's Fair for greater America(the world). The athletes are no longer pretending to be amateur. There's always some form of cheating going on. So the answer to the question is, it doesn't matter, it's a TV show. Watch if you don't care, boycott otherwise. Don't watch it and it will go away. It's had a long full life. Nike!

Of course the Olympics should be free of "politics" but the NEVER have been. Hitler knew better in 1936, fans who chant "USA,USA" do also. The Chinese wanted to use the Games to "show off" their "new" country, its "democracy" and progess. They got what they should have expected and probably did, given the police protection they have provided for the torch

No boycot now, LET THE POLUTION IN BEIJING SHOW THE WORLD THE "NEW" CHINA

The other thing is: who cares other than the athletes? The Olympics have become a cheapened, corporatized marketing event.

Chris O if you really think that you need to get outa the house. Try visiting China for starters. Not to sound like your parents but you will be shocked at how good it turns out you have it. The day you do you will think of this post I bet.

As someone put it earlier in this comment section, though with a different point of view, what we need to do is indeed grow up. Growing up, in my mind, entails understanding the world as it really is, and step out of our little bubbles. As I see it, nothing -nothing- not even the dreams of athletes compares to the crushing suppression of human rights committed by China. If the Olympics are indeed supposed to represent a celebration of the the global community, then the vocal and public dissent of these Olympics is an amazingly honorable thing to do. Standing up for the moral cause can certainly make a difference. To think otherwise is to admit hopelessness. I don't ever intend to be that cynical.

Maybe Gregory should organize a nude pro-Hamas mini-marathon. That should make him feel better.

#40

Excellent point Doug, that's why the arguement about not mixing politics into the Olympics rings so pathetic and hollow. If the IOC didn't want politics to be mixed in then don't pick a country with such a horrid human rights record! They made it politcal by picking China quite frankly!

(re post #38)

Because I often post, I want to clearly distinguish between me, David--capital D from NYC (live in Bx, work in Manhattan), and "david"--lower-case d stating his Chinese ethnicity and listing france as his location.

I do not share david's sentiments. Thank you.

da #47,

you should go to china so you don't have to deal with pesky free citizens like myself. you obviously can't handle criticism of the governement so you should move to the type of society where you won't have it

#43

Thanks for pointing that out. I was just about to do the same.

Yes, #40 great point! Why not host the next ones in Sudan or UAE?

Doug,

I totally agree, the IOC must be run by morons to have given this to China.

BTW, was anyone freaked out by the Orwellian descriptions by the Chinese government used to describe the protests in Paris? Those hundreds of protestors were reduced to "a few Tibetan separatists". it was as absurd as our calling "torture" as "waterboarding", or our calling "escalation" as "surge".

As for people cry-babying that this is unfair to the athletes, they should take their complaint to the IOC. And what are they going to say when China starts asserting its tyrannical power in places other than China and other than Tibet? Will they be crying over the athletes' "dreams", then?

I love and am indebted (literally!) to the Chinese people. But I fear their government.

The President should boycott the Opening Ceremonies, because that would send a clear message to the Chinese Government that the United States does not support China's brutal and illegal occupation of Tibet. The idea of the boycott is not to make the athletes suffer, but rather to let China know that we will not sit idly by while they fire live ammunition at peaceful Tibetan protesters and give them our seal of approval by attending their Opening Ceremonies. Furthermore, Bush should call on the International Olympic Committee to pressure China not to bring the Torch onto Tibetan soil. Right now, the Chinese government is engaged in a brutal and violent crackdown inside Tibet, and they have not allowed any foreign journalists or independent monitors to enter the region. Bush should use his position to call on the Chinese Government to unconditionally release all of those who have been arrested for simply demanding their freedom, and to allow UN human rights monitors into Tibet.

Being a Tibetan I personally don't think Olympic should be boycotted but, let me make one thing clear to the world. Tibet and it's leader has been non-violent and has urged world's help just because China don't seem to be wanting to talk and engage. We are urging China to come to the table and talk so that we all can live in peace and harmony. If you don't think that Olympic has nothing to do with politics you are wrong. Olympic is held in belief with harmony and friendship but, China is lacking that very moral value. There is no harmony and peace in Tibet. I personally urge all the protestors to be non-violent and make sure that we get the world support. We must not hurt the torch bearer in any way.

For me I would like to confide you the world that I am speaking for the Tibetans in Tibet since their voice can't be heard. The Tibetans in Tibet are urging the world to help make Tibet a zone of peace.

Thank you.

Sonam Topgyal.

Chris O slow down #53 makes no sense.

The protesters, including Richard Gere, are right about Chinese human rights abuse, Tibet, Darfur, etc.

Protesting the Olympic torch relay is dead wrong. It damages what is left of Olympic goodwill. It insults the athletes around the world. It tends to blame the Chinese people for their government's action.

Most important, it doesn't work. Attempting to humiliate the Chinese officials will not improve the political situation. These protests seem like the work of shrill amateurs with no awareness of Chinese history and no respect for the potential for good in international sports.

Mitch

No Boycott.

The Ancient Greeks stopped wars during the Olympics. We should stop the Iraq war too.. oh i forgot its not a war its an occupation.

According to The Daily Show the torch tradition was started by Adolf Hiter - is this true??

how do u get a flame on a plane?

I think we should boycott the opening, including out puppet president, but have our athletes participate in the olympics.

Keep the politics out of the Olympics, unless the offense is completely egregious.

The athletes who have worked their asses off for four years to peak for this event deserve a chance to compete.

Brian,

based on the performance of your guest in this segment you will be rated a C. please use yours skills to bring it up to an A. If you need a role model, please listen to Leonard to acquire the skills that might improve your performance!

The pageantry of the opening ceremonies is the single element of the Olympics that does the greatest honor to the host country. Boycotting this ceremony sends a sufficient message apropos China's human rights record and crackdown in Tibet. Boycotting the games goes too far; it's a snub to all participant countries.

NB: Taking a strong position, as the United States well should, regarding China's human rights record presents a nice opportunity for us to look in the mirror and examine our own, no?

I'm thrilled that the Tibetans and others are using this golden opportunity to shame China. I respect the idea of the Olympics as a time for the world to come together, across national boundaries--and so I think we should participate.

However, the reality is that the Olympics are ALWAYS political. Beijing is hosting the games precisely for political reasons. So it's completely legit to use this opportunity to counter Beijing's official propaganda. Likewise, boycotting the opening ceremony is appropriate, because it's only purpose is to glorify the host country.

To contribute to the history of protest towards the games. In 1968, the Mexican government killed hundreds of students during a march because they were afraid of their image and control during the games....

Yes, we should boycott the Olympics. Tibet's plight has seemed largely invisible by the governments and peoples of the world, and it's not just a political issue, it's a human rights issue.

There is visibility now, and it should be used to challenge China to recognize the Dalai Lama, and recognize the rights of Tibetans.

There should be here an historian of the original Greek Olympics, maybe we would find out that they were, in fact, political too where individual city-states or groups competed in the Olympics to show strength over other city-states/groups? I don't know that's a guess but it's worth checking into. Shall i check Wikipedia? [cruel LOL]

63--just ask Richard Simmons. (Sorry, I couldn't resist. :-))

The athletes should be allowed to compete, but Bush should not attend the opening ceremonies and the U.S. government should issue a statement condemning China's human rights violations.

Pretty hypocritical, considering Guantanamo, the war in Iraq, and our pro-torture and rendition policies, not to mention our failure to condemn Israel's 2006 invasion of Lebanon (which we paid for with our tax dollars and foreign aid) or treatment of Palestinians in the occupied territories, but two (or three, or four) wrongs don't make a right, so we should make the statement.

Leave the political issue out off the sporting event.

To megan, if you want to make the case for Tibet, you do really need go back thousands year ago! China occupied the area thousands year ago.

American found the country by killing almost all American indians and occupied the land hundreds year ago. We are pround of American. This logic seems not working.

Until any western media has put a person who share the view of the majority of Chinese, inside or outside of China, at the main stage of discussion instead of just comment lines, you are inherently and collectively biased!

http://action.savedarfur.org/campaign/skip_olympics/ix38s7u4f7n63bij?

My 17 year old son flew out to San Francisco, at his own expense, to demonstrate against bringing the torch through Tibet where the anticipated crackdown to "secure the parade route" will cause more killings and jailings of Tibetans.

The Olympics are one season, but the Free Tibet movement will certainly carry on, especially since next year is the 50th anniversary of the March 10th uprising.

black power protests of the 60's-70's

tibet is open for visiting all year around to the world, why the hell don't the western protesters go there and make films and talk to the local people before ? it's clearly seen here about their intentions.

i don't have solutions to our "human rights problem" but China has been a peace loving country in history for a long time. it's always us that defend ourselves from attacks. that's the reason we built the great-wall! we are a united country , not like those little european countries that continuously fought with each other for centries. so to say china is a threat is total crap !!

We shouldn't boycott the Games, but we must boycott the opening ceremonies. While I normally don't believe the Olympics should be politicized, a boycott is the only way we can send an effective message to the Chinese government that their atrocious human rights record in Tibet is unacceptable.

To China's government, thousands of international protestors = "a few Tibetan separatists"

and in the U.S. a millitary escalation - a "surge"

Same old story, same old bull.

But face it, as much as people hate the US now, the government of China, and China's growing appetite for power and resources, really frightens people. Look at how China's growing appetite for meat is impacting world grain supplies. We need to think about this carefully, it is a sticky situation.

Hua Chen they are free to comment too!

...Oh, sorry, they are not (that being exactly the issue...)

That was too easy

#65

I count genocide as egregious...I'm funny like that!

So many amazing comments. Wow!!! What a discussion.

I think a boycott of the Opening Ceremonies would be a good stance for the U.S. to take to condemn the actions of the Chinese against the Tibetans but right now I don't think we have much moral standing to do so. We suck right now.

The United States, including our leaders, should boycott the 2008 Olympics.

Lets be clear. We are not talking about the people of China, we are talking about the CCP, the Chinese Communist Party. As long as the CCP controls China, we should refrain, both socially and economically, from supporting any legitimization of the CCP.

For all Americans who want to reason their way out of this (i.e. the Olympics are a sports event only, etc ...), stop your totalitarian appeasement and be true to our Constitution.

In order to be a part of the world, a country must protect a citizen's life, liberty and property. China does none of the above.

Charles

Bklyn

Charles

I think a very good way would be to boycott the opening ceremonies, to dramatically show this disapproval without damaging the actual games. I think its very important that western countries show their disapproval of the way the Chinese government has handled protests in Tibet. That will show that human rights trumps corporate power in the west. If this happens, there's still some hope for us in the West- i.e., that we still have some principles. Unfortunately, China has much economic clout these days, and therefore have more power to manipulate our reaction. I think it's sad that economics may determine our reaction to a human rights issue.

What I find telling and very interesting is like the government he shrilly supports, David degenerates very quickly into the gutter with name calling and cursing anyone that speaks against the CCP's propaganda machine. This blind "Han nationalisim" is the main problem with modern China. Han Chinese from the top to the bottom become insane whenever anyone questions the government. What they don't seem to understand is that it makes them look bad.

Any resolution of the Tibet issue will come via Tibetans and Chinese. Protesting and boycotting are not good ways to engage the Chinese, who will see these actions as a major loss of face and will only retreat further into knee-jerk nationalism and iron-grip rule.

The Chinese government is obsessed with maintaining order and fears chaos above all. This is because of events such as the Cultural Revolution. To them, protests are chaos and chaos spells disaster for the country, which is why they are so quick to crack down so hard on any dissent.

But it does make many Chinese angry that westerners, who divided China up during the Opium Wars and caused much suffering among the people, are now lecturing China about human rights.

I don't hold these views myself but to them, this is just another attempt by "imperialists" to weaken China.

I'd love to see a reporter wander through the protesters asking to see the labels on their clothes. How many of them are wearing clothes that were made in China? Or the materials they've made their banners out of? We're all supporting the Chinese government when we go to the store.

I agree that the USA has no moral authority to criticize China.. George Orwell's Animal Farm is an exact description of the revolution in China and the last line of the book describes the USA and China perfectly

To the caller challenging the "moral authority" of any United States citizen to speak out against China's crackdown on Tibet: the misdeeds of our own amoral leadership should not silence the conscience of the people.

it's so damn ironic to see americans protest while you just finished invading irak !

your government has done tons of dirty deals behind the curtain all around the world to maximize your own interests

what right do you have to tell others what to do ?

I totally disagree with Russell, the caller who is indignant at what he sees as the hypocrisy of Americans protesting Chinese brutality. There has never been an innocent nation, but that hasn't prevented international pressure from putting an end to, say, the Atlantic slave trade, the Franco dictatorship in Spain, South African apartheid, European imperialism, etc. If only the totally innocent can criticize tyranny, then no one can criticize tyranny. Where does that leave us?

To Yiorgos in Astoria,

I agree that it's very sad that the Olympics have become politicized, but let's be honest.

The current Olympics are so different from the ancient Athenians' more religiously based Olympics.

The real Olympics weren't hijacked entirely by business interests.

The best Olympics was 2004 in Athens. But no one went because of "terrorism". Crazy.

The Olympics should only be held in Greece. Ever. Because at least their government is mostly sane.

We should absolutely boycott it. I think it's desensitization that has us calling it a "political issue." It's a HUMAN RIGHTS issue. That transcends political, and athletic, boundaries.

Why not protest the Opening Ceremonies from with in them. If every country that supported Tibet carried the flag of Tibet instead of their own home countries it would be a major act of protest and support while still keeping with the spirit of the games.

Politics and Sports should not mix. As such, no US political figures (executive or legislative) should attend.

US has no right to protest against human rights issues. Why didn't we protest when China was chosen as the next Olympic Games?? US can boycott the opening ceremony if that makes US feel better, but I heard US president never attends the opening ceremony anyways.

The runners with the torch aren't the people torturing Tibetans!

I think Bush simply shouldn't go. Unless he plans to use his visit to advance a US Foreign Policy of objection to Chinese oppression and lack of freedom, I don't want him using our plane and incurring all the security and other costs for a joy ride. The money could be used for treating our vets instead. Maybe the Chinese would cover the costs with all their prosperity.

#91

EXACTLY!

I protested the Iraq invasion from day 1 when there was a handful of us near the UN and seemingly noone cared how incredibly wrong the invasion was! NOONE is going to tell me that I don't have the "moral authority" to criticize because of what my government does. Since when did criticizing the Chinese government mean that you must therefore support everything your own government does?????? What the f...???

Don't confuse the people with the governmet. We, as american citizens shouldn't be silenced due to the crimes of our government. You can actually be against both! Geez...